Bicycle handlebar, particularly for a racing bicycle

ABSTRACT

A bicycle handlebar that terminates in two rearwardly extending horizontal ends, these ends terminating forwardly in first upwardly curved portions having a first radius of curvature. These first upwardly curved portions terminate forwardly in forwardly and upwardly inclined rectilinear portions, these rectilinear portions terminating forwardly and upwardly in second upwardly curved portions having a second radius of curvature substantially smaller than the first radius of curvature. These second curved portions in turn terminate in upwardly and rearwardly inclined portions which terminate in a common crosspiece by which the handlebar is adapted to be secured to a stem of a bicycle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bicycle handlebar, particularly for aracing bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The grip of a handlebar, in particular of sport and racing bicycles isgenerally in the form of a tube having a single radius bend. The palm ofthe hand must thus adhere to this bend: it will therefore lie on the twoends leaving an empty space in the central part. This causes athickening of the skin at the extremities of the palm, as well as skinirritations and in general increased effort and a contraction of thehand and wrist muscles. This state of tension jeopardizes driving safetyand requires in general an increased effort on the part of the rider,coming even to prevent perfect control of the bicycle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a perfectly anatomicalhandlebar which eliminates any uneven effort on the part of the rider.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid aim has been achieved by providing a curved handlebarhaving at the hand resting zone an almost rectilinear axis.

In particular, a handlebar is provided which has, besides a horizontalportion adapted to be engaged in the stem, also a concave zone benttowards the rider, said zone having in a first portion in front of thehand grip, that is in front of the thumb, a very small bending radius,and in the portion behind the hand, that is near the little finger abending of much greater radius, i.e. about twice the previous one, whilebetween these two zones a rectilinear portion bent about 3°-55° asregards to a vertical plane is provided, which extends for a distancealmost equal to the width of the rider's palm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be better illustrated on the basis of anexemplary embodiment which is shown in the enclosed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the proposed bicycle handlebar; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same handlebar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawing it will be noted that the proposedhandlebar 10 is formed by a central fixing portion 11 which will beinserted in the stem of a bicycle and by two lateral sides 12 and 13which are bent forward and then downward.

The forward bending is totally traditional; the subject of the inventionconcerns the bending of the bar in a vertical plane from top towardsbottom so as to form a shaped cavity 17 turned towards the rider andcapable of receiving his hands.

This cavity 17 is carried out by means of a succession of three portionslinked one with the other; a first bent portion 14 has a very smallradius r; a second rectilinear portion 16, has an inclination comprisedbetween 35° and 55° as regards to the vertical; this portion is adjacentto the first bent portion 14; finally a third portion 15, has a bendingradius R which is about twice the previous radius r and is also adjacentto the second portion. Normally the handlebar terminates with an endportion 18 almost horizontal.

As it will be noted from FIG. 2 the hand of the rider can thus liecomfortably in the zone wherein the axis of the tube is almostrectilinear.

I claim:
 1. A bicycle handlebar that terminates in two rearwardlyextending horizontal free ends, said ends terminating forwardly in firstupwardly curved portions having a first radius of curvature, said firstupwardly curved portions terminating forwardly in forwardly and upwardlyinclined rectilinear portions, said rectilinear portions terminatingforwardly and upwardly in second upwardly curved portions having asecond radius of curvature substantially smaller than said first radiusof curvature, said second curved portions terminating in upwardly andrearwardly inclined portions which terminate in a common crosspiece bywhich said handlebar is adapted to be secured to a stem of a bicycle. 2.A bicycle handlebar as claimed in claim 1, in which said rectilinearportions form an angle of 35°-50° with the vertical.